Method of making vehicle-wheels.



N0. 657,5!7. Patented Sept. H, I900. H. F. CONDUN.

METHOD OF MAKING VEHICLE WHEELS.

(Application filud Jan. 17, 1800.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Patented Sept. ll, I900.

- Io. es-7,517.

H.'F. 'CONDON. METHOD OF MAKING VEHICLE WHEELS.

(Application filed Jan. 17I 1900.) n Model.) 2 sheets-shat 2.

Wm 11M z W aw M g0 wa cums PETERS 0a.. Pumuu mu. wgsnmu UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. OONDON, OF DE KALB, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF MAKING VEHICLE-WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,517, datedSeptember 11, 1900. Application filed January 17, 1900. fierial No.1,735. N0 model- To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY .F. CONDON, of De Kalb,in the county of DeKalb and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Methods of Making Vehicle-Wheels, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to a method of making vehicle-Wheels and refersmore specifically to an improved method of tensioning the spokes ofwheels of the suspension type or those in which the hub is suspendedfrom the rim by spokes under tension.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, economical, andaccurate method of securing a proper tension between the structuralparts of the wheel; and the invention consists in the matter hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l isan elevation of a complete wheel of the type to which my invention isapplicable. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a single pair of spokesattached at their outer ends to a fragmentary portion of the wheel-rimand showing the manner in which the inner ends of each pair are united.Fig. 3 is an axial sectional View taken through the hub and one side ofthe rim, showing a heating ring applied to the hub and the electricalconnections therewith represented diagrammatic:

ally. Fig. L is a detail side view of the hub,

one end being shown in axial section, showing also a sectional View of aheating-ring in position thereon. Fig. 5 is an end viewof the hub,showing the inner ends of one pair of spokes attached thereto. Fig. 6 isaperspective View of a heat-applying ring adapted for carrying out onestep of the invention; andFig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showingtwo contact-rings applied to the hub and the electrical connectionstherewith.

Before describing my improved method specifically it is to be noted thatthe invention is especially applicable to that class of wheels in whichthe hub, or at least a portion of the body thereof, is of metal and thespokes arranged in two sets, which are connected with the hub at pointsmore or less remote from each other, and in which the spokes when thehub is completed are more or less tangential as distinguished from adirect orradial arrangement thereof.

It is to be further noted that the use of the invention is not limitedto any particular construction of wheel or arrangement of structuralparts thereof, provided the construction embodies the above-mentionedcharacteristics.

Inthe wheel shown in the drawings in connection with which I have chosento describe my invention 1 designates the hub, which is of metal andmade of tubular or shell form and provided adjacent to each end with anannularenlargement or thickened portion 2, which may be either formedintegrally with the body of the shell or cast thereon and within whichenlargements are rigidly seated radial flanges 3, it being essential tothe carrying out of the invention that the parts to which the spokes areunited at their inner ends shall be rigid. lhe periphery of each of theflanges 3 is provided with a series of integral hooks 4, and the spokes5 are made in integral pairs united at their inner ends by U-shapedbends to form loops 6, which are engaged with the hooks 4, asindicatedclearly in the drawings. The outer ends of the spokes are shown asengaged with the rim 7 by means of hooks 8, formed upon said outer ends,which are engaged with apertures 9, formed through a radiallyinward-extending flange 10 uponthe interior of the rim.

In assembling the wheel the pairs of spokes are so engaged with the rimand books of the hub-flanges as to each extend tangentially from itspoint of attachment with the hub to the rim, and the spokes of each sideof the wheel are all arranged with their tangency in the same directionand oppositely with relation to the direction of tangency of theopposite side of the wheel, as indicated clearly in the several figuresof the drawings.

In carrying out my method of tensioning a wheel after the wheel has beenassembled I heat the body of the hub at a point between thespoke-supporting portions thereof sufficiently to enable the metal to betwisted or re-formed to a certain extent without materially injuring themolecular structure thereof and then while in its heated condition twistor rotate one end of the hub relatively to the other, twisting theopposite ends in the proper direction to decrease the angle between eachspoke and a radial line passing through its point of attachment with thehub, or, in other words, in such direction as to increase the tensionupon the spokes. After having thus twisted the hub sufficiently to bringthe proper degree of tension upon the two sets of spokes I hold theparts in this position and permit the metal to cool until it takes apermanent set, which will cause it to retain the tension by reason ofits ownrigidity.

In the preferred manner of heating the hub in order to soften it beforere-forming I encircle'the hub with a resistance-ring, as 11, throughwhich I pass a heating-current of electricity, which may be derived fromany suitable source. In the drawings I have shown a divided carbon ringadapted to encircle the hub, having overlapping ends 12, which areconveniently held together to form a closed circuit surrounding the hubby means of clamps 13, suitable binding-posts 14 being provided upon thering-sections for connection with the opposite leads of the conductorsleading to the source of electricity and as shown diagrammatically. Inthe present instance the source of electricity will be a dynamo, asindicated at 15. After the hub has been sufficiently heated the currentis interrupted and the hub twisted in the manner described by means ofany suitable mechanism, as by applying suitably-shaped spanners to theopposite ends of the hub and applying force manually or mechanically totwist the hub in the proper directions and to the required degree.

In Fig. 7 I have shown an alternative means of heating the hub by anelectric current, in which case I employ a pair of contact-ringsconnected with the opposite terminals of the source of electricity andseated in direct electrical connection with the body of the hub parallelto each other and at a short distance apart. With this arrangement whenthe current is turned on the heating of the hub is accomplished by thepassage of the current directly through the portion of the hub itselfintervening between the contact-ri ngs,whereas the heating in theformcrinstance results from the contact of the heated ring with the bodyof the hub.

It will be seen from the foregoing that by means of my improved methodwheels can be tensioned rapidly and cheaply and without destroying theadjustment of any of the structural parts after the wheel has once beenassembled, this method of tensioning reducing to a minimum thedistortion or throwing out of true of the wheel incident to tensioningas usually accomplished, and that it is entirely feasible to tensioneach wheel of a series to any required degree and with substantialuniformity.

While I have described a preferred manner of accomplishing the heatingof the part to be re-formed, yet it is to be understood that the methodis not limited in its broad sense to heating by electricity, but that itmay be otherwise accomplished without departing from the invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. The method of tensioning suspensionwheels ofthe general character described, Which consists in first assembling thehub, rim and spokes of the wheel and thereafter twistinga part of thehub connected with one set of spokes bodily with relation to the part ofthe hub connected with the other set of spokes in such direction as toincrease the tension of the spokes and in such manner as to impart apermanent distortion or re-forming and set to the metal which isre-formcd.

2. The method of tensioning suspensionwheels of the general characterdescribed, which consists in first assembling the spokes, hub and rimnext heating a part of the hub intervening between the spoke-support ofone side and the spoke-support of the other side of the wheel andthereafter twisting said heated portion bodily and holding it intenwhich consists in first assembling the hub,'

rim and spokes, next heating an annular section of the hub interveningbetween the spokesupporting portions thereof and finally twisting saidheated portion from opposite ends and in opposite directions and holdingit in tensioned position until the metal acquires a permanent set.

4. The method of tensioning suspensionwheels of the general characterdescribed, which consists in first assembling the hub, rim and spokes ofthe Wheel, next subjecting a part of the hub intervening between thespoke-supporting portions thereof to an electrical heating-current andfinally twisting said heated portion bodily in such manner as toincreasethe tension of the spokes and holding the reformed hub in tensionedposition until the metal is cooled and regains its rigidity.

HENRY F. CONDON.

Witnesses:

L. F. MCCREA, ALBERT H. GRAvEs.

